A city magistrate on Monday issued non-bailable warrant against film actress Sonali Bendre as she failed to appear before the court for framing of charges against her in a criminal case of alleged obscenity.
The warrant was issued by additional chief metropolitan magistrate Ravindra Gate who took serious note of the lapse on the part of the actress.Sonali and three others have been booked in a case of alleged obscenity. The actress had allegedly posed semi-nude on the cover page of magazine Showtime in March 1998.She was arrested along with photographer Amit Ashar and dress designer Ashley Rebello by social services branch of city police on March 27, 2001. Another accused in this case is the publisher of the magazine, Neelkanth Giri.
Except Bendre, all the accused were present in the court on Monday. The actress has already secured permanent exemption from appearance before the court. However, she had to appear on Monday for framing of charges.Her lawyers, Dharmendra Rohra and Ashok Shahani urged for a stay on the warrant issued by the court against Bendre.However, the court rejected their plea.Bendre`s lawyers would now present her before the court and get the warrant cancelled.The court has adjourned the matter to January 13.
